TEF’S Aims

To afford the opportunity for students of Ireland to contribute towards a better economic future.

To open discourse on a national level and offer solutions to current policy issues.

To share with students the knowledge, insight and expertise of professionals.

Most importantly to bridge the gap between student leaders and those in office.

TEF is a unique two day forum that combines individual talks and panels with collaborative workshops that allow all delegates to interact with speakers and panelists alike. TEF delegates form an integral function of both the keynote speeches and panel discussions over the two days, featuring Ireland’s top economists and business and political leaders. Beyond attending keynote speeches, panel discussions and workshops, delegates will also have networking opportunities with likeminded students, speakers, journalists and sponsors.

This year the forum will attract over 300 students from all disciplines of Irish universities. Over the two days (5th & 6th Feb), the delegates will discuss, debate and participate in shaping the future of the Irish economy. This year’s key topics include Brexit, China’s global dominance & The Black Economy amongst others.

The Founding of TEF

The TEF concept was developed out of the common desire of a group of Trinity students to promote student participation in shaping the future direction of economic policy in Ireland.

The conversation about Ireland’s economic future has been dominated by three different viewpoints – the economists who look for the theoretically correct answer, the business person who looks at the practical side of things, and politicians, who as far as we can see, just want to get re-elected. Sadly there doesn’t seem to be an awful lot of productive conversation between these viewpoints.

Realistically, some of the people who will be sitting around the policy table in fifteen years’ time determining the future of this country are in college right now and we hope that this event will help to promote a more open and honest debate among Irish undergrads about important policy issues, so that these conversations might be a little bit more effective in the future.